Education

Sen. Bam welcomes CHED’s move to go after SUCs collecting miscellaneous fees

Re-electionist Sen. Bam Aquino welcomed the Commission on Higher Education’s (CHED) promise to go after state universities and colleges (SUCs) that still collect miscellaneous fees.

“Sa ating pag-iikot, nakakarinig tayo na maraming SUCs ang nangongolekta pa rin ng miscellaneous fees kahit mayroon nang batas na nagbabawal dito,” said Sen. Bam, principal sponsor of Republic Act 10931 or the Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act.

“Natutuwa tayo sa pagkilos ng CHED na habulin ang mga SUC na lumalabag sa batas na dapat sana’y napakikinabangan na nang buo ng ating mga estudyante,” added Sen. Bam.

Earlier, CHED chairperson Prospero de Vera promised to crack down on universities on going beyond than what they are allowed under the Free College Law.

Based on the Free College Law, SUC students are free from tuition and other miscellaneous fees, such as library, computer, laboratory, school ID, athletic, admission, development, handbook, guidance, entrance, registration, medical, dental and cultural fees.

“Dapat matupad ang intensiyon ng batas na hindi na dapat naglalabas ng kahit isang sentimo ang mga magulang at estudyante para sa tuition at miscellaneous,” Sen. Bam stressed.

If he wins a second term, Sen. Bam has also committed to work for affordable internship for college students, especially those taking up hotel and restaurant management (HRM) and nursing.

“Iyong mga on-the-job fee, lalo na sa kursong HRM at nursing, napakataas talaga. Binabayaran kasi ito hindi sa school ngunit sa third party. Isasama namin ito sa mga gagawin natin sa Senado,” said Sen. Bam during his recent visit to Ozamis City.

According to Sen. Bam, he already had initial talks with CHED about the issue of affordable internship during the agency’s budget deliberation in the Senate.

“Ang gusto ko sana, although hindi pa ito implemented, may internships na libre. Choice na ng estudyante kung gusto nila yung internships na mas mahal sa ibang bansa,” Sen. Bam explained.

Sen. Bam promised to craft a measure that will lower cost of internship in private and public colleges and universities.

“Libre na ang tuition at may scholarships pa, pero kung mahal naman ang internship, hindi natutupad ang pangako ng abot-kayang pagtatapos,” Sen. Bam pointed out.

Sen. Bam backs education reform agenda of teachers’ group, eyes more assistance for educators

Re-electionist Sen. Bam Aquino  has committed to push for the welfare of the education sector, including salary increase to teachers and other education support personnel in public and private educational institutions.

Sen. Bam underscored his support by agreeing to a pledge of commitment with the Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT).  The senator was represented by his policy head Paola Deles while Joselyn Martinez signed in behalf of ACT as its national chairperson.

“Kasama tayo ng ACT sa isinusulong nilang mga reporma sa sektor ng edukasyon, kabilang na ang dagdag na benepisyo sa ating mga guro na napakalaki ng papel na ginagampanan sa pagpapalago ng lipunan,” said Sen. Bam, vice chairman of the Committee on Education.

Aside from the salary increase for teachers, Sen. Bam has promised to work with ACT for the improvement of the benefits package to secure the welfare of education workers and to ensure the sufficient fund for free education in all levels.

The two sides also agreed to work together to review of the education curriculum to make it attuned to the present needs and ensure the full exercise of rights of education workers.

During his time as chairman of the Committee on Education, Sen. Bam worked with ACT in the crafting of the Free College Law, which he pushed as principal sponsor.

“Ang pagpasa ng batas sa libreng kolehiyo ay una pa lang sa mga reporma na nais nating isulong. Kapag tayo’y nakabalik sa Senado, uunahin natin ang dagdag na benepisyo ng ating mga guro,” said Sen. Bam.

As part of the Makabayan bloc, ACT is one of the groups that expressed support behind the candidacy of Sen. Bam.

Earlier, Sen. Bam has committed to pursue the passage of his Trabaho Center Bill that will help ensure job availability for K-12 and college students once they receive their diploma.

Fellow senators defend Sen. Bam’s role in free college law

Several senators came out to defend the important role of re-electionist Sen. Bam Aquino in the passage of the free college law.

Senators Panfilo “Ping” Lacson, Joel Villanueva and Franklin Drilon all stressed the importance of Sen. Bam’s hard work in passing the landmark that is being enjoyed by millions of Filipino students.

It was Sen. Lacson who first recognized Sen. Bam’s work via a tweet, saying the young senator should be given credit for the passage of the free college law as he was the one who defended it from the thorough questioning of his fellow senators.

In an interview, Sen. Lacson lauded Sen. Bam for his determination in passing the Free College Law as its principal sponsor.

“Kapag napag-uusapan ang libreng matrikula sa kolehiyo, ang unang naiisip ko, si Senador Bam Aquino. Alam kong siya ang nagtiyagang itulak ito sa Senado bilang author at principal sponsor ng Free Tuition Law,” Sen. Lacson said.

Sen. Drilon, for his part, said Sen. Bam was instrumental in making the free college law a reality to give the country’s youth a chance at a bright future.

“He’s a man who is sincerely concerned for our welfare- especially sa future ng kabataan,” said Sen. Drilon, who also recognized Sen. Bam as a dependable ally of the Filipino people in the Senate.

Sen. Villanueva also recognized Sen. Bam’s determination in pushing for the passage of the free college law.

Sa pagsusulong po ng Free Tuition Law, naging major major kasangga po natin si Senator Bam Aquino,” said Sen. Villanueva, adding that Sen. Bam deserves a second term in the Senate.

“Palaging handang magsilbi sa bayan. Iyan po si Senator Bam Aquino. Ibalik po natin siya sa Senado,” added Sen. Villanueva.

If re-elected, Sen. Bam has committed to push for the enactment of his Trabaho Center Bill, which seeks to address the problems of jobs mismatch and unemployment in the country.

The bill seeks to establish “Trabaho Centers” or Job Placement Offices (JPOs) in public high schools and state universities and colleges (SUCs) to address the skills mismatch and ensure employability of students upon graduation.

Sen. Bam: Address jobs mismatch to help solve unemployment

Re-electionist Sen. Bam Aquino reiterated the need to connect workers to the available jobs in the market to help address the unemployment problem in the country.

“Kailangang pagtagpuin ang mga kumpanyang naghahanap ng empleyado at ang mga taong naghahanap ng trabaho,” said Sen. Bam, adding that he will push for the passage of the Trabaho Center Bill if he wins a second term in the Senate.

“Kaya pagkatapos ng Libreng Kolehiyo, isusunod natin isusulong ay ang batas para sa siguradong trabaho sa pamamagitan ng Trabaho Centers,” added Sen. Bam.

Sen. Bam said the Trabaho Center Bill is the necessary best reform after the Free College Law, which he pushed as principal sponsor, to ensure employment for all graduates.

“Ang bawat Pilipinong nakinabang sa libreng kolehiyo ay dapat may siguradong trabaho. Iyan ang sisigiruhin natin kung papalarin tayo ng isa pang termino,” said Sen. Bam.

The measure seeks to establish Trabaho Centers or Job Placement Offices (JPOs) in public high schools and state universities and colleges (SUCs) to address the skills mismatch and ensure employability of students upon graduation.

“Aayusin nito ang ugnayan ng mga kumpanya at industriya sa mga eskwelahan para tiyaking angkop sa pangangailangan ng employers ang edukasyon at training na ibinibigay ng mga academic institution,” said Sen. Bam.

Through the Trabaho Centers, Sen. Bam said college and K-12 students will be employment-ready by the time they receive their diploma.

Sen. Bam calls for effective implementation of TES program

As an important component of the Free College Law, the Tertiary Education Subsidy (TES) program should be effectively implemented for the benefit of students in public and private colleges and universities, according to Sen. Bam Aquino

“Dahil mahalagang bahagi ito ng batas sa libreng kolehiyo, maraming estudyante ang makikinabang kung ito’y maipatutupad nang maayos,” said Sen. Bam, principal sponsor of the Free College Law.

Sen. Bam issued the statement after receiving numerous complaints from several private learning institutions and student-beneficiaries of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program or 4Ps about the delay in the release of TES funds.

Sen. Bam said the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) must ensure the smooth delivery of assistance under the TES to financially disadvantaged students for other cost of education, such as food, books and living expenses.

The TES also covers education expenses of poor but deserving students who choose to study in private colleges and universities.

“Sa hirap ng buhay, napakahalaga ng tulong na hatid ng TES sa ating mga estudyante sa kanilang gastusin sa pag-aaral. Malaking tulong din ito sa mga pamilyang may pinag-aaral sa kolehiyo,” said Sen. Bam.

Earlier, Sen. Bam called on CHED to immediately release the guidelines for TES to hasten its implementation and avoid confusion in schools and release the remaining P11.2 billion fund allocated for the TES in the 2018 national budget.

Initially, the CHED already released around P4 billion to around 200,000 TES beneficiaries in state universities and colleges (SUCs) and local universities and colleges (LUCs).

Duterte, Sen. Lacson acknowledge Sen. Bam’s role in passage of Free College Law

Re-electionist Sen. Bam Aquino thanked President Duterte and Sen. Panfilo Lacson for acknowledging his role in the passage of the landmark Free College Law even as he expressed willingness to help the government for the welfare of poor Filipinos.

“Salamat at kinilala ni Presidente ang tinrabaho natin para maisabatas ang Libreng Kolehiyo,” said Sen. Bam, who pushed for the passage of the Free College Law as principal sponsor during his time as chairman of the Committee on Education in the 17th Congress.

“Basta para sa taumbayan lalo na kung makakatulong sa mahihirap, handa tayong makipagtulungan tulad dito sa batas ng Libreng Kolehiyo,” added Sen. Bam, who also expressed gratitude to Sen. Lacson for recognizing his effort.

Sen. Bam’s reaction came after President Duterte mentioned in his speech in Koronadal City on Tuesday that the senator helped in the crafting of the landmark legislation.

“In fairness to him (Sen. Bam). Nagtulong siya in crafting the law,” Duterte said in his speech.

Duterte’s pronouncement solidified the statement of Sen. Panfilo “Ping” Lacson, who reiterated the important role that Sen. Bam played in the passage of the Free College Law during Thursday’s media interview.

“Siya naman talaga yung nag-labor diyan para maipasa. Siya talaga nagtulak so, I corrected (them),” said Lacson, referring to his tweet giving credit to Sen. Bam for the passage of the important legislation.

“Ang daming claimants na nagki-claim ng credits. So, sabi ko, to set the record straight, si Sen. Bam iyan,” said Sen. Lacson, adding that Sen. Bam was the one who defended the legislation from scrutiny of his fellow lawmakers.

Sen. Ping lauds Sen. Bam’s determination in pursuing free college law for poor Filipinos

Sen. Panfilo “Ping” Lacson lauded Sen. Bam Aquino’s hard work to make the free college law a reality, giving poor Filipino families a chance to have a bright future.

“Kapag napapag-usapan ang libreng matrikula sa kolehiyo, ang unang naiisip ko, si Senador Bam Aquino. Alam kong siya ang nagtiyagang itulak ito sa Senado bilang author at Principal Sponsor ng Free Tuition Law,” said Lacson in an interview.

“According to Sen. Lacson, Sen. Bam worked hard for the passage of the law as its principal sponsor and co-author, defending it from scrutiny of his fellow lawmakers.

“Iyong pagiging author, susulat mo lang yun, ipa-file mo. Pero ang magde-defend, iyan ang napakahirap, kasi napakaraming pilosopo kaming kasama doon, tatanungin ka ng kaliit-liitang detalye ng panukalang batas, o yung bill, na dinedepensa mo,” added Lacson, who also supports the re-election bid of Sen. Bam.

Sen. Bam said the free college law gives Filipinos, especially the poor, an opportunity to obtain a better life through education.

“Ang libreng kolehiyo ay isang daaan para magkaroon ng magandang buhay at umangat ang kalagayan ng ating mga kababayan, lalo na ang mahihirap,” said Sen. Bam, who worked for law’s passage during his time as chairman of the Committee on Education in the 17th Congress.

Sen. Bam said he pushed for the passage of the free college law after meeting with parents who dream of seeing their kids earn a college degree, but cannot afford to send them to school. 

“Maraming nanay, lalo na iyong mga nakasama ko sa mga Konsultahang Bayan, na nais mapagtapos sa kolehiyo ang kanilang mga anak ngunit kapos sa pera. Ang tanong nila sa akin, ano po ang inyong magagawa para kami’y matulungan,” said Sen. Bam.

“Kaya hiningi natin ang chairmanship of the Committee on Education at pinursige ang batas sa libreng kolehiyo para sa kanilang kapakanan. Ngayon, kahit kapos, makapagtatapos,” Sen. Bam pointed out.

After free college, Sen. Bam focuses on solving unemployment, jobs mismatch

After pushing for the enactment of the Free College Law, Sen. Bam Aquino said he’s focused on addressing unemployment and jobs mismatch through the Trabaho Sigurado Bill.

“Pushing for the Job Mismatch Bill or addressing the job mismatch is the necessary best reform after the free college law,” Sen. Bam, principal sponsor of the free college law, said during the Rappler senatorial candidates’ forum held at the Ateneo de Manila University on Monday.

According to Sen. Bam, one out of five Filipinos are working in jobs that are not suitable to their courses.

“Iyong unang batas na ipa-file natin kung makabalik sa Senado ay ang Trabaho Sigurado Bill para ilapit ang mga estudyante sa mga trabaho na nababagay sa mga kurso nila,” pointed out Sen. Bam, who is seeking re-election under the Otso Diretso slate.

“Kailangan ay nagma-match iyong mga kurso at subjects sa mga pangangailangan sa lugar na kinalalagyan ng paaralan, guro, at estudyante,” he added.

In the 17th Congress, Sen. Bam filed Senate Bill No. 1278 or Trabaho Centers in Schools Act, which seeks to establish job placement offices in public high schools and state universities and colleges (SUCs).

The measure mandates the establishment of a Trabaho Center in every public high school and SUC with main services that include: 1) Industry Matching, 2) Career Counseling, and 3) Employment Facilitation.

The legislation aims to address the skills mismatch and ensure employability of students upon graduation by using feedback from employers to better develop the school’s curriculum and training programs.

Sen. Bam: Gov’t can fund free college even without TRAIN Law, Duterte being misled by economic managers

Sen. Bam Aquino believes the government can fund free college even without the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) Law, insisting that President Duterte is being fed wrong information by his economic managers.

“Hindi po totooong walang pagkukunan ng pondo ang gobyerno para sa libreng kolehiyo at ibang serbisyo kung ititigil ang TRAIN Law,” said Sen. Bam, one of four senators who opposed the ratification of the TRAIN Law.

“Mali ang ibinibigay na payo ng economic managers ng gobyerno kay Pangulong Duterte,” added Sen. Bam, principal sponsor of the free college law.

In fact, Sen. Bam said that in 2017, the Senate allocated funds for the first year of implementation of the free college law for 2018, even before the TRAIN Law was passed.

Sen. Bam emphasized that the government economic managers are trying to divert funds for other purposes, based on an earlier pronouncement by Sen. Panfilo Lacson that he has identified around P410.98 billion from the 2019 national budget allotted for pork barrel.

“Sapat ang pondo ng gobyerno para sa mga proyekto. Ang problema, ang ibang pondo, nagagamit sa ibang bagay para sa kapakinabangan ng iilang tao,” said Sen. Bam.

Sen. Bam has been pushing for the suspension of excise tax on fuel under the TRAIN Law, filing the Bawas Presyo sa Petrolyo Bill last May 2018 to help ease the burden of Filipino people on high prices of food and other goods.

Sen. Bam’s  measure seeks to suspend and roll back the excise tax on fuel under the TRAIN Law once the country’s inflation rate exceeds the government’s target for three straight months.

“Tama na po dagdag-pahirap sa mga kababayan nating nalulunod sa taas presyo. Bigyan naman natin ang mamamayan ng ginhawa,” said Sen. Bam.

Sen. Bam: May elections should focus on needs, welfare of Filipino people

The May elections should center on addressing the needs and other vital issues affecting the Filipino people, and not on President Duterte, according to Sen. Bam Aquino.

“Ang nais sana namin sa kampanyang ito ay hindi lang maging tungkol kay President Duterte o tungkol sa aming walo. Tungkol ito sa taumbayan,” said Sen. Bam, who is running under the Otso Diretso coalition.

“Ang eleksyon na ito ay tungkol sa mga boses na matagal nang hindi napapakinggan. Panahon na para ang mga sinasabi ng mga boses na ito ay maging bahagi ng mga programa ng mga ihahalal natin,” added Sen. Bam.

Sen. Bam said the coalition is focused on crafting solutions to the everyday problems hounding the Filipino people, including high prices of goods, hunger, poverty, security and human rights, among others.

“Nagbabago ang kwento ng kampanya dahil lumalaki at tumitindi ang pangangailangan ng taumbayan dahil sa hirap ng buhay. Ang tanong nila, sino ba talaga ang makikinig sa pangangailangan namin?” said Sen. Bam.

“Ang uunahin namin ay ang taumbayan, at makikita niyo na ito ang nagbubuklod sa amin sa Otso Diretso,” the senator added.

As principal sponsor of the free college law, Sen. Bam said it opens up opportunities for Filipinos to have a brighter future through education and helps poor families cope with everyday needs.

“Sa halip na ipambayad sa tuition ang pinaghirapang pera, ngayon maaari nang magamit ito ng pamilyang Pilipino sa iba pang pangangailangan, lalo na ngayong mahal ang presyo ng pagkain,” said Sen. Bam.

Sen. Bam was one of four senators who stood up against the ratification of the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) Law based on his firm belief that it will burden the Filipino people with high prices of food and other goods.

“Tumayo tayo kontra TRAIN Law dahil alam natin na ito’y malaking pabigat sa ating mga kababayan, lalo sa mga mahihirap,” said Sen. Bam, who has 35 laws to his name in almost six years as senator.

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